1300m up, from Hille to Ghorepani

Day 5 - Hille-Ulleri-Nagethani-Ghorepani

8:00 Hille (1470m)
10:45 Ulleri (2140m) for tea
13:25 Nangethani (2459m) for lunch
16:50 Ghorepani (2785m) destination

Properly tough. 1300m vertical climb over six hours.
Woke up early, watched dawn break over the valley. Beautiful.

Omelette and fried potatoes and onion garnish for breakfast. Yum.

Set off. Initially flattish to a set of swing bridges. Then seriously up.

Lots of people walking with us. From China, India, Germany, France. Not really crowded though. You could have your own space. Although a Chinese guy with a soft-pop radio playing loudly was intensely annoying. Tried to keep ahead of him!

Sadly unfit. Kept up ok but was plodding and no energy for talking when we stopped to rest. Was pretty hot (high 20s) and sweating on the way up. I love my nice short haircut!

Miaow!

A buffalo was being butchered behind one of the guest houses.

Views changed from inside the valley, to looking down back to the swing bridges, the valley floor and mountains and hills. High cumulus meant no snowcapped views. I think we'll miss out tomorrow at Poon Hill unfortunately.

Tea stop at Four Seasons Hotel & Restaurant, Ulleri. A long stop for lunch at Hungry Eye Restaurant, Nangethanti.

Nangethanti

Sights after lunch on the way - wonderful alpine rocky rivers with big rocks and waterfalls. Rhododendron forest in the rain.

Rain from shortly after we set off. Colder but not freezing. More than happy in t-shirt and parka. But cold when we got to Ghorepani - the wood burner in the Snow View guesthouse was very welcome.

Guesthouse is quaint again - hand built from stuff carried up by mule. Feels like a crib (or bach)! Nothing straight, everything just doesn't quite fit. But great. Lovely fire with wetback for hot shower. Books.

Gorepani! From the guesthouse dining room.

Turns out the guesthouse is owned by Jimmy's Godmother! So we got chicken because they trust her to not make us sick. And green chili - BAM. Everyone pretty tired, and very quiet before dinner at 7:30pm. We all sparked up after dinner but rapidly closed out by news of a 4:45am start!